128 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Breeds on moorlands of Scotland and northern half of 

 England ; also in Wales and mountain districts of Ireland. 

 Eggs (4 or 5) are laid on the ground ; smaller than those 

 of Kestrel or Hobby; size 1*50 by ri8. Old nests in 

 trees are occasionally made use of, but instances of this 

 proceeding are rare. Preys on birds up to size of a thrush. 



GENUS XCVIII. TINNUNCULUS, Vieillot (1807). 

 A sub-genus of Falco, containing in all a dozen species. 



181. Tinnuneulus vespertinus (Linn.). RED- 

 FOOTED FALCON. 



Hab. Central and Eastern Europe ; also Western Asia. 

 In winter migrating to Africa. 



Male : whole plumage of a deep sooty slate-colour, 

 excepting the thighs and under tail-coverts which are 

 chestnut ; iris dark red ; cere and tarsi orange-red ; claws 

 horn-white. Length ii'oo. Female : mantle, wing- 

 coverts and tail slate -grey with dusky bars ; head, nape, 

 and under parts rufous-brown. Length 12*00. 



A not uncommon visitor in spring or autumn ; examples 

 been taken in almost every county in the southern half of 

 England, but more rarely in the north. It has occurred 

 but three times in Scotland and once in Ireland (1832). 



182. Tinnuneulus tinnuneulus (Linn.). KESTREL. 



Hab. Palaearctic region ; also Africa and British India. 

 Partially migratory in winter. 



Male : mantle bright rufous spotted with black ; rest of 

 upper parts bluish-grey ; the tail paler, broadly tipped 

 with white and with a wide black sub-terminal band ; 

 under parts rusty -buff with blackish spots and streaks ; 

 circumocular region black ; bill lead-coloured ; iris deep 

 brown ; cere and tarsi yellow ; claws black. Length 



